Five announce flash memory security initiative

LONDON Ė Panasonic, Samsung, SanDisk, Sony and Toshiba have reached an agreement in principle to collaborate on a content protection technology for flash memory cards such as SD Cards and for other flash-based storage options.

The work will take place under the tentative title of "Next Generation Secure Memory Initiative." The companies expect to coin a catchier name later, Panasonic said.

The five companies have agreed to start preparing for the licensing and promotion of high-definition capable security for SD Cards and embedded memory for use in consumer equipment such as tablets and smartphones.

The key thing is that the security be robust enough to protect HD content and will be realized through the use of a ID technology for flash memory die and copy protection based on public key encryption. The advent of a next-generation security should enable the download of broadcast content and the management of copying form Blu-ray media.

The companies plan to start licensing the secure memory technology early in 2012 and expect to see flash memories and embedded flash memories using the technology in the market in 2012, Panasonic said.

"With our new secure memory solution, we are excited to create a strong link between the living room experience and the mobile experience. Now consumers can enjoy watching premier content, such as movies, on the go with their smartphones and tablets," said Yoshiyuki Miyabe, corporate CTO of Panasonic, in a statement.

I have found it difficult to believe that it has taken this long for some group to get around to doing this. This will go a long way toward making smartphones and tablets even more ubiquitous than we are seeing yet.